AA Recovery-Related Topics

Recovery topics for AA meetings can be anything from how to avoid alcohol in holiday food to getting sober while parenting a toddler. Three common formats are step meetings discussing the AA 12 steps, speaker meetings where one member tells his story, and topic meetings where the leader throws out a topic for discussion. Members don't always stick to the topic. Sometimes each speaks about whatever is on her mind.

Steps

• The 12 steps of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous are suggestions for how an alcoholic might understand the disease, come to grips with the drinking years and make plans for a sober future. The steps are a main recovery topic. Some groups discuss one step or another at a meeting once a week. Some groups have only "step" meetings.

One Day at a Time

• Alcoholics stay sober in AA one day at a time. This means the person focuses on staying sober just for that day. As a recovery topic, this is important . The AA uses the 24-hour approach in place of "going on the wagon" or "quitting cold turkey."

Slogans

• Many short phases explain simple concepts for alcoholics to remember in recovery. Examples are "easy does it," "let go and let God," "first things first," and "keep it simple." A recovery meeting can explore what the topics mean to each member.

Spirituality

• AA is a spiritual program but not a religious one. The recovery program suggests the alcoholic find something larger than himself for his faith. Members decide what concept of a higher power works best for them. It can be a god of a religion or the strength and goodwill of the group itself. Spirituality is a frequent topic in meetings.

Service

• The founding concept of Alcoholics Anonymous is for one alcoholic to help another alcoholic to stay sober by sharing his own experience with alcoholism. A frequent topic in recovery meetings is "service," as are the ways AAs can serve other recovering alcoholics.

Traditions

• AA has 12 traditions in addition to the 12 steps of recovery. The traditions are not rules, but ideas for the best way groups can relate to other groups and conduct their meetings. Groups often hold meetings where the traditions are the topic.